Central Banking
Trichet says ECB's rate message is clear
European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said on Monday 4 September that his message on interest rates following last Thursday's policy meeting is clear.
OECD raises Eurozone, UK growth forecasts
The OECD raised its 2006 growth forecasts for the Eurozone and UK on Tuesday 5 September, but kept its forecast for US growth unchanged and lowered its projection for Japan.
BOJ panel recommends staff transaction ban
An advisory panel to the Bank of Japan has said BOJ officials should be barred from most types of financial transactions.
Tanigaki says fiscal reforms must speed up
Japan cannot be slow in implementing fiscal reforms given its ageing population and rising global interest rates, Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki said on Tuesday 5 September.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, July 2006
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for July 2006, published 23 August, was -0.12 in July, down from +0.43 in June. Two of the four broad categories of indicators in the index made small positive contributions.
Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook Survey, Aug 2006
According to the firms surveyed for the Philadelphia Fed's August 2006 Business Outlook Survey, activity in the region's manufacturing sector continued to expand. The indicator for general activity improved notably this month, and indicators for new…
Bank of Canada Review, Summer 2006
The Bank of Canada published its Review for Summer 2006 on 17 August. The Review includes the article 'Credibility with flexibility: The evolution of inflation-targeting regimes, 1990-2006'.
Norges Bank appoints communications director
Norges Bank announced on Friday 1 September that Siv Meisingseth has joined the central bank as Director of Corporate Communications.
Riksbank announces death of Jan Bergqvist
Jan Bergqvist, Chairman of the General Council of the Swedish central bank, has suddenly passed away at the age of 66, following a period of illness, the Riksbank said on Monday 4 September.
PBOC official says reforms are a long process
The reform and opening up of the country's financial industry will be a long, tough process but moving too quickly will only bring risks to the economy, a senior official of the People's Bank of China said in a speech.
Trichet says IMF representation progressing
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet has said the process of giving the ECB a higher profile in the IMF is going in the right direction, although he would prefer progress to be quicker.
Bank capital, asset prices and monetary policy
In this Bank of England Working Paper the authors study a general equilibrium model in which informational frictions impede entrepreneurs' ability to borrow and banks' ability to intermediate funds.
Inflation outbreaks unlikely says Fed's Poole
Outbreaks in inflation are unlikely, especially with recent readings suggesting that price pressures have reached a plateau, St. Louis Federal Reserve President William Poole on Thursday 31 August.
Balcerowicz says NBP's independence is at risk
National Bank of Poland governor Leszek Balcerowicz said in a television interview on Friday 1 September that the government poses an ``unprecedented'' threat to central bank independence.
Sushi and doughnuts have role in BOJ's mistake
According to this recent article from Bloomberg, the latest inflation data from Japan suggests the Bank of Japan has messed up - again.
ECB keeps rates steady
The European Central Bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3% as expected.
Brazil surprises with half-point cut
Brazil's central bank slashed its interest rates by a larger-than-expected 0.5% on Wednesday.
Fed seeks to reassure over housing slowdown
Overall rises in disposable income should offset a possible increase in the saving rate due to a softening housing market, Federal Reserve chairman, Ben Bernanke, said in a letter to a congresswoman released on Wednesday 30 August.
Indian rates may not rise-former governor
India's central bank may hold back on further interest rate hikes this year, according to a former Reserve Bank of India governor, Bimal Jalan.
Riksbank conference on central bank governance
Sweden's central bank is hosting an international research conference on governance in central banks.
Duguay on Canada's response to global changes
Canada has responded well to a dramatic change in its terms of trade, according to Pierre Duguay, a deputy governor of the Bank of Canada.
Barbados central bank on Basel II progress
Banks in Barbados are moving ahead with implementing the Advanced IRB guidelines in Basel II for 2012.
New external debt statistics released
The BIS, IMF, OECD and the World Bank have released improved debt statistics.
Sweden raises rates
Sweden's central bank raised it benchmark interest rate by 0.25% in a move anticipated by the market.